Every year the American Library Association recognizes books and media for children and teens. The ALA Youth Media Awards (YMA) encourage original and creative work in the field of children’s and young adult literature. Many of these highly recommended books are available at our St. Lawrence County public libraries.
For the youngest of readers, the Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott and is awarded to the artist of the most distinguished picture book for children. The 2018 award winner is Matthew Cordell, illustrator and writer of Wolf in the Snow, a picture book about a girl and a wolf cub who get lost in the snow and rescue each other. Wolf in the Snow is available at the Canton Free Library, Hepburn Library of Colton, Hepburn Library of Lisbon, Ogdensburg Public Library, Massena Public Library, and Potsdam Public Library.
Runners-up for the Caldecott Medal include Big Cat, little cat, illustrated and written by Elisha Cooper (available at the Canton Free Library plus the libraries in Colton, Lisbon, Massena, and Ogdensburg), Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut, illustrated by Gordon C. James and written by Derrick Barnes (available at the Potsdam Public Library), A Different Pond, illustrated by Thi Bui and written by Bao Phi (available at the Norwood Public Library and the library in Potsdam), and Grand Canyon, illustrated and written by Jason Chin (available at the libraries in Lisbon and Potsdam).
For early readers, the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award is given annually to the author and illustrator of the most distinguished book for beginning readers. The 2018 award winner is Charlie & Mouse, written by Laurel Snyder and illustrated by Emily Hughes. Readers join young brothers Charlie and Mouse on a full day of imaginative adventures. The brothers talk to sleeping lumps, invite friends to an impromptu playground party, fail to sell rocks, and invent the bedtime banana. Charlie & Mouse is available at the Clifton Community Library in Cranberry Lake, the Hepburn Library of Waddington, and the libraries in Canton and Colton.
Runners-up include I See a Cat, by Paul Meisel (available at Hopkinton Reading Center and at the library in Lisbon), King & Kayla and the Case of the Missing Dog Treats, written by Dori Hillestad Butler and illustrated by Nancy Meyers (available at the library in Lisbon), My Kite Is Stuck! And Other Stories, by Salina Yoon (available at the libraries in Lisbon, Norwood, and Ogdensburg), Noodleheads See the Future, by Tedd Arnold (available at the libraries in Colton, Cranberry Lake, Lisbon, Norwood, and Waddington), and Snail & Worm Again, by Tina Kügler (available at the libraries in Colton, Cranberry Lake, Lisbon, and Waddington).
For middle-grade readers, the Newbery Medal was named for eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery and is awarded to the author of the most distinguished contribution to literature for children. The 2018 award winner is Erin Entrada Kelly for the book Hello, Universe. This chapter book is told from four intertwining points of view and celebrates bravery, being different, and finding your inner hero. Hello, Universe is available at the Reading Room Association of Gouverneur and the libraries in Canton, Lisbon, Massena, Ogdensburg, and Potsdam. It is also available in eBook and eAudio from our Overdrive collection.
Runners-up for the Newbery Medal include Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes (available in Potsdam), Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds (available in Massena, Ogdensburg, and Potsdam), and Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson (available in Ogdensburg, Potsdam, and our Overdrive collection).
For teen readers, The Michael L. Printz Award is an award for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature and is named for a Topeka, Kansas school librarian who was a long-time active member of the Young Adult Library Services Association. The 2018 winner is We Are Okay by Nina LaCour and is a book about a young college student in New York who is learning to cope with grief. We Are Okay is available at the libraries in Canton, Colton, Gouverneur, Lisbon, Ogdensburg, and Potsdam.
Runners-Up for the Printz Award include The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (available at the Morristown Public Library, the Rensselaer Falls Branch Library, and the libraries in Canton, Gouverneur, Massena, Norwood, Ogdensburg, Potsdam, and Waddington), Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds (available in Massena, Ogdensburg, and Potsdam), Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor (available in Canton, Colton (on audio CD), Massena, Norwood, Ogdensburg, and Potsdam), and Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligman (available in Potsdam).
I encourage you to pick up and read one of these award-winning books for children and teens. The awards were just recently announced, so other libraries may have some of the winning titles on order from their book supplier. If a specific book isn’t available on the shelf at your local public library, please request it through our inter-library loan service. Most books can be shipped to and received at your local library within a few days – every library receives a delivery at least once weekly. While you’re visiting the library, check out everything else we have to offer!